I grew up in a small village of 300 Catholic families called Bhimanapally Kammagudem in the Diocese of Nalgonda, in the state of Telangana, India. I am the youngest child to my late parents, Roman and Jathruthamma; I have an older sister and an older brother. My brother died two years ago.

My family was a traditional Catholic family. My grandparents were migrants from the neighbouring district of Andhra Pradesh around the year 1912; they were practising their Catholic faith before they moved to Telangana State. I was educated at St Therese’s Primary School in Bhimanappaly, where my Godparent was a teacher. My Godparent used to teach catechism and helped children at St Therese’s School and children and youth in the village to prepare for the sacraments. She was the one who, throughout my childhood, constantly motivated me to go to Church. I still remember the day when I made my first Confession and received First Holy Communion.

I was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest on 14 May 2011 for the Apostolic Life Community of Priests in the Opus Spiritus Sancti (ALCP/OSS) by Most Rev. Govindu Joji, Bishop of Nalgonda. The Ordination Ceremony took place at St Joseph’s Church, in my hometown of Bhimanapally, Kammagudem.

I was inspired to religious life by my cousins, who are religious sisters. I observed their faithful service in different fields, pastoral, medical, educational and social. They guided me to choose this way of life. Meanwhile, as years passed when I was in the seminary, I felt more than ever, the call to vocation that God had planned for me.

Priesthood, for me, is challenging and rewarding. Being a priest has given me the privilege of getting to know people well and of being part of their lives in joyful and painful times. The priesthood calls one to centre oneself, one’s message and one’s own core values that provide constant renewal in a sense of purpose; to be an instrument through whom Jesus continues to do what He did when on earth; to be caring, loving, serving, compassionate and able to understand whom soever comes to me.

As a seminarian, I was privileged to study Theology in Italy, but my appointment at Wodonga Parish is my first appointment in a country other than my homeland of India. One of the founding principles of our Order is to assist wherever we are needed. I expressed my willingness to work outside India and at some time later, my Provincial and his council decided to send me to the Diocese of Sandhurst, and I agreed.

Wodonga Parish is wonderful parish with lots of programmes being organized; I am looking forward to having a role to play as these continue. The people are very welcoming, supportive, and caring. I’ve been surprised by the vastness of the parish and that there are ten churches, which means I’ll be doing a lot of lot of driving. This of course, is a wonderful experience, too.

Since arriving in Wodonga, I have visited and introduced myself to the communities of the catholic schools in the Wodonga area. I have also visited nursing homes and some of the sick in our parish for anointing.

It is impossible to make generalisations about nations, communities, and people. India is a
vast country and the Catholic population is in the minority. Generally, people in India are very poor and depend on their daily wages for their livelihood. It is not an easy task to bring them to church. Sometimes, we have to visit families, convince them to attend Mass and prayers. India is a mixture of different cultures, languages, and traditions. Perhaps, my experience in ministry is not the same as that of the other.

In India, I have worked in small parishes where people are loving, welcoming and caring and I have experienced that in Wodonga, too, so there are no doubt many similarities, not only differences.

In Wodonga Parish, we have people from many nationalities. I have heard from the parishioners that there are about 30 Syro-Malabar Catholic families from India who practise Holy Mass in their own rite twice a month.

I am new to Wodonga and Australia, so cannot fully understand the challenges ahead of me. No doubt I will have many new experiences and will grow and learn as I hope my parishioners too, will grow in faith. How I personally live out my vocation on a daily basis and stay close to Christ will impact the faith journey of my parishioners. I have the challenge of renewing our enthusiasm and continuing to serve God’s people in the Church, in Jesus’ words:

“If you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me”  [Matthew 25:40].